The Good, The Bad, and The Officials - Texas 45, OU 35
How in the hell did we get to this point? Bob Stoops wondered as he looked across the field as the clocked ticked off the last couple of minutes of game time at his arch-rival Mack Brown. This is three out of four. Three out of four, and we were damn lucky to win last year’s game. Jamaal Charles doesn’t fumble that ball going into the endzone, and that’s a whole ‘nother ball game.
He shook his head and looked at the ground, standing spread-eagled with his hands on his knees, as he tends to do. Wasn’t it just a few years ago his own fans were laughingly calling him Coach Clappy? This is the guy Spurrier used to refer to sarcastically as “Mr. Football”. He looked at the scoreboard: Texas 45, Oklahoma 35. Three out of four to Coach Clappy. I knew when they stuffed that fake punt that we were in for a long, tough day. Eight out of the last nine years, that play goes for 20 yards before his guys have the presence of mind to even know where the damn ball is. But this is a different team than those were. Gotta give ‘em credit – they were darn sure well-prepared to play this game, and those kids don’t have an ounce of quit in ‘em. I’ve seen five or six Texas teams in the last 10 years that just would’ve thrown in the towel when it got to 21-10 in the second quarter. Not these kids. You have to admire that, much as I hate to admit it. This is twice now that they’ve put up 45 on our defense. MY defense. 2005, I understood. We were down a little that year, and they had Superman playing quarterback. Holding that team to 45 was an accomplishment. Colt McCoy’s a good quarterback, but he’s not Superman. At least, I didn’t think he was before today. That was before he completed 80% of his passes on MY defense. Kid can play. 
Not Superman, but a pretty good imitation.
Gotta do something about Venables, he’s just not cuttin’ it. Maybe Mikey’ll drop another 5 or 6 games this year, and we can get him back. Now, that’s an uncharitable thought to have about your own brother, isn’t? So be it – we need him.
He grimaced as his quarterback, Sam Bradford, was laid out by Texas linebacker Sergio Kindle. The clock continued its inexorable march towards yet another Oklahoma loss to Texas. Damn, when did I lose my edge over this guy? We had five years there where we just did anything we damn well pleased in this game. Even in 2002, when they damn sure had better talent than we did, we just kept their defense on the field in that second half and wore their asses out. Huh. That’s exactly what they did to our defense – MY defense – today. I bet they’re almost 40 minutes in TOP in this game. That’s just unacceptable.
Then there’s that idiot Greg Davis. In that five year run, we literally knew every play they were going to run. As soon as they broke the huddle and lined up, our guys were calling out the play to each other. It’s been awhile since that happened. Oh, hell, the two plays they brought #7 in today, we damn sure knew he was going to get the ball, but that was pretty much it. We didn’t even know where the ball was going today when they got into their “jumbo” package. Crossed us up every damn time. How did we let that happen? He shook his head again as the clock wound down to zero, took a deep breath, and trotted out towards midfield where he would shake hands with his arch-rival, a loser for the third time in four tries. Guess they’ll quit calling him Coach Clappy now, he thought, “I wonder what our fans are gonna start callin’ me?
Let’s go to the G, B and O:
First, the OFFICIALS: I’ve always tried to maintain some sense of perspective regarding the game officials, since I did some officiating myself for several years awhile back, when pass interference was pass interference, and everybody seemed to know what holding was. In most games, the bad calls and non-calls tend to even themselves out, and I’ve only witnessed a few games in which I seriously believed the game officials had a stake in the outcome. The infamous Grant Teaff final game in Waco was one. The game at Missouri a few years back was the other. Were it not for the two bad calls that went our way in this game, I would believe that about this set of officials as well. Instead, I must believe they were just utterly and completely incapable of performing their jobs adequately. The referee’s name was Karl Richins. Just so everyone knows. I can’t remember ever having seen him call one of our games before, so I’m assuming he is one of the two new referees the Big 12 put into service this year. If that’s the case, I’d really like someone at the Big 12 offices explain to me why we put a rookie referee in charge of the single biggest game in the conference this year. Wouldn’t the magnitude of this game indicate to someone in a position of authority that maybe, just maybe, you might want to put somebody competent, like John Bible and crew, or Randy Christal and his crew, on the field in Dallas? Words cannot begin to express how goddam sick and tired I am of sitting in the Cotton Bowl and watching OU’s offensive linemen commit egregious holding infractions on every play from scrimmage without being called for doing so. Loadholt’s an early NFL draft pick? I got news for you: If Loadholt plays in the NFL in the handsy manner in which he played today, he will be penalized out of the freaking league. He seems destined to become the Flozell Adams of his generation. After holding Orakpo on pretty much every passing play all damn day long, Referee Richins finally decided to throw a flag in his direction with about 3 minutes left in the game, after the outcome was safely decided. That’s not to mention this middle screen play OU runs. Pretty much every one of them was completed past the line of scrimmage, with several OU linemen illegally downfield blocking ahead of the ball. No wonder they’re so successful. And don’t get me freaking started about OU’s pussy punter. Give the sonofabitch an Emmy already, but quit calling running into the punter penalties when the silly turd hasn’t even been touched. Finally, I counted three blatant facemask infractions OU players committed right in front of Referee Richins with nary a flag being thrown. I wonder: Is it possible for a college coach to protest a game his team won? Because if it is, Mack Brown would do well to sit down with the Big 12’s supervisor of officials and review the film of this game with him. Referee Richins should never again be allowed to influence a game the way he did in this one. Had this game been competently officiated, Texas would have won by 3 touchdowns.
Next, the BAD
Kickoff coverage – the only weakness our special teams have displayed this season reared its ugly head in a big way in the second half today, putting the Sooner offense in repeated short-field situations.
Brady Bunch Mullet – I kid you not, I saw an Okie before the game with the damnedest mullet I have ever seen. The guy had long blond hair that had been permed into a Brady Bunch afro, and cut into a shoulder-length mullet. I wished I’d had my camera with me.
Put a Brady Bunch perm on this guy, and you get the picture.
Selling the halftime show to Carl’s Jr. and Love’s Convenience Stores. Those of you who were there know what I’m talking about. Why don’t we just make the bands wear logos, as if they were golfers or NASCAR racers? It would save time.
Finally, the GOOD:
Offensive game plan – I’ve never been a fan of Greg Davis, but I thought today’s game plan was about as good as it could have been, given the personnel limitations he is working with. We spread the field, forced OU to cover from sideline to sideline, ran the ball just enough in the first half to keep their linemen honest, and consistently hit receivers in stride rather than standing still. The result was an attack that moved the ball down the field with regularity, and kept OU’s defense out on the field about 2/3rds of the game. We held the ball for more than 37 minutes in this game, and just wore the Sooner defenders down in the second half. This enabled Ogbannaya to turn runs upfield that in the first half had just been strung out by OU’s defense for no gain. Add to that plenty of new wrinkles that helped keep OU off-balance – the Jumbo Package stuff was really fun – and I think even the most avid Greg Davis critic has to say he and the other offensive coaches really out-coached the OU staff today.
Guts, pride, determination, whatever you want to call it – Our team has no quit in it. When OU took that 21-10 lead with 10:25 left in the 2nd quarter, you could literally feel the deflation of the Texas crowd, as we all dreaded the thought of another collapse in the Cotton Bowl. What happened instead was one of the finest offensive drives of the season, going 80 yards on 12 plays and consuming 6:44 of clock time. Next, the defense stuffs OU for a 3 and out possession. Then, the offense consumes the final 2:46 of clock time with a 6 play, 51 yard drive that closes out the half with a field goal. Just like that, a game that looked to be on the verge of getting out of control goes into halftime with OU clinging to a 21-20 lead, and
Earl Thomas – finished the game with 2 Ints., and dropped an early one that would have gone 99 yards for a TD had he held onto it. This guy is a freshman. So is Blake Gideon. Stoopsie has to see these guys three more times. Ain’t it great?
The defensive line – the whole damn defensive line. They were just stellar, especially when you consider the rampant holding and face-mask grabs that went uncalled all day long. OU finishes the day with 48 yards rushing on 26 tries. That looks like the rushing line we used to see from the Longhorns in this rivalry a few years back.
Brian Orakpo – Brian finished the game – remember, a game in which the supposed future NFL star Loadholt felt the need to hold him on pretty much every down – with two sacks of Sam Bradford, four tackles for loss, and six total tackles. I think the future NFL star in this particular matchup was wearing white with burnt orange trim today.
Rod Muckelroy – but for the blown coverage on the long TD pass to Jermain Gresham (Muck had the coverage initially but came off it on the run fake on the play), the Longhorns’ best linebacker had another amazingly effective day, recording a yet-again team high 14 tackles, 12 of them solos.
Sergio Kindle and Roy Miller deserve to be singled out here for outstanding performances.
This is why you focus on special teams – John Gold gave the team a field position edge in every punt exchange. Hunter Lawrence continues to be perfect on placekicks for the season. Justin Tucker’s kickoffs were consistently long and high, even if the coverage of them left much to be desired. And of course, Jordan Shipley’s kickoff return for a TD kept Texas in the game in the early going.
Sam Bradford – this guy is really, really good. You have to give him credit. And his receivers are hellacious as well. Putting up 35 on the
Texas defense is nothing to sneeze at
Offensive Line Play – was outstanding all day. Colt had plenty of time to get rid of the ball most of the time, and the Longhorn line just wore OU’s defensive front out in the final two periods. The blitz pickups, a continuing liability for this program for a decade, were terrific today.
Colt McCoy – Mr. 80%. Everyone assumed that there was no way Colt could continue to complete 80% of his passes now that we’re moving into the meat of the schedule. All he did today was complete 28 of 35, which is, ummmmm, 80%. If there is a better college qb in the country, I haven’t seen him. Think how incredibly lucky we are that Ryan Perriloux decided to change his commitment to LSU. What a train wreck that could have been.
Chris Ogbannaya – it occurred to me watching him today that he runs a lot like Emmitt Smith used to. He actually has some pretty nice moves in traffic, and seems to have very good field vision. He also is, like Emmitt, quick enough to break into the open, but not quite fast enough to outrun the defensive backs to the goal line. What a revelation he has been the last two weeks, just when the team needed desperately for somebody to step up at the running back slot.
Quan and Shipley – we have certainly had more heralded wide receivers at
Defensive Player of the Game – Brian Orakpo, or Muckelroy.
Offensive Player of the Game – I can’t pick between Colt and Shipley. Call it a tie.
Special Teams Player of the Game – Shipley.
There’s just nothing like being in the Cotton Bowl for the Texas/OU game. Nothing like it on earth. This was the 12th Red River Rivalry game I’ve had the pleasure of attending, and it was without question the finest college football game I’ve witnessed in person (I did not attend either of the Rose Bowls). It was a gut-wrenching experience, I can hardly talk, and I may not be able to go to sleep until Tuesday, but I sure am glad I was there.
We all had our doubts about how good this particular version of the Longhorns could be, and some level of that doubt carried into this game despite the 5-0 record, given that it had been compiled against an early schedule of also-rans. These lingering doubts, and the obvious personnel and experience limitations the coaches are forced to deal with this season, were the reasons why I put up the post cautioning against irrational exuberance last week. In his own post game comments, Mack Brown acknowledged that even he has had trouble judging just how good this team can be.
But those lingering questions have been answered now. What we saw Saturday is that this team is very special, and very good. Loaded with playmakers, and loaded with heart. The schedule remains filled with potential landmines, but none that remain appear to be of the same caliber as Oklahoma, especially after OSU knocked off Missouri and Tech had to go to overtime to get past Nebraska at home.
This was a huge game for Mack Brown, and the manner in which the team follows it up will be huge for his legacy at Texas. This team presents Mack with the opportunity now to solidify his standing as one of the great coaches of his generation. It gives him the opportunity to demonstrate that he can win the Big 12 conference and take his team to a BCS bowl game without Superman playing quarterback. He had that same opportunity in 2006 after his team whipped OU in
Hook ‘em!!!
October 11, 2008 at 6:54 pm
One of the best RRS games ever and probably your best write-up ever. Bravo.
October 11, 2008 at 6:56 pm
I apologize yet again for the spacing problems in this post. This software is impossible to manipulate, at least as far as I’m concerned.
October 11, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Tomorrow this Longhorn team will be #1 in the nation.
Mind-blowing? Yes.
Awesome? Fuck yes.
October 11, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Grreat post, Eyes. Why did we not catch up after the game?
I would add Muschamp manufacturing a three and out on a series late in the third when we were down 5. 2nd and 10 and Muschamp lined up Sam Acho over the ou slot receiver field side. Bradford saw this and audibled to a run play seeing an extra gap available. A split second before the snap, Acho jumped back into his gap and Texas stopped Brown to set up a 3rd and 8. It was a Jedi mind trick of the highest order.
October 11, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Mike, when are you coming back?
October 11, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Had to record the second half and just finished watching it. I couldn’t be more proud of the effort of the team, both players and staff. I’ve waited a long time to see a Vince-less Horns team give that kind of effort.
Nice work, Eyes. It’s 11:42 and OU (and the officials) still suck!
October 11, 2008 at 8:00 pm
I would add the GREAT block by Quan Cosby on the Jordan Shipley play down to the one. He absolutely blew up Lendy Holmes to add a few extra yards to that play. I can’t see that block enough. Beautiful.
October 11, 2008 at 8:15 pm
OU’s leading rusher had 29 yards and they had 48 yards total rushing for the game. That has not happened in a long time.
And coming in, I was worried about us not having a game-changer at RB.
October 11, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Either us or Bama for the #1 spot. Doesn’t matter really. We just need to keep winning and there are certainly a lot of games left against some great teams. Great win and let us all enjoy it for tonight.
Hook’Em
October 11, 2008 at 8:43 pm
We haven’t played a game as the #1 team in the country in either major poll since 1984.
So it matters to me just a little. I’d like to see “1 Texas” or “#1 Texas.” And then we win, of course.
October 11, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Amazing performance by Colt. All the other players played great and all and had their role, but it was Colt’s superior play that pushed us over the top in this game. Seeing him play so well under such adversity, pressure, and against such first rate competition bodes very well for the Horns in all sorts of ways.
It seems that this team is just too consistent and disciplined to fall apart down the stretch and I just do not see more than a loss for the rest of the season, if even that. The defense we field alone almost seems to be enough to prevent more than a fluke loss. It seems to be especially adapted to deal with the spread O’s it will face in the coming weeks, with the capability of shutting them down. We have an multitude of excellent coverage DBs and a legit and viable four man rush. A defense such as that makes upsets by such teams less likely, especially when you consider that their own universally crappy defenses will wilt against our O. And Texas is only going to get better as the season goes along, considering the youth and considering that we will get Fozzy back, who is, by far, our best and most effective running threat.
With Colt doing so well and having developed so positively, this will only help our recruiting at the most important position to become even better. Just a few years back, it seemed we had alot of difficulty recruiting anyone at the QB position. I believe Colt was the third choice of Mack’s after striking out with Sanchez and Perrilloux. With Colt being in position to win a Heisman as well as MNC, probably the years of going O’fer on QB’s are behind this program (alot of that possibly had to do with the percieved failure of Simms, who was considered to be the #1 QB recruit, to develop and flourish under GD) and highly rated QB’s are going to be waiting in line to have the same opportunities to become the next VY or CM.
Texas will reap the rewards for this victory for a long to come in my opinion. It was just an absolutely huge and program defining victory, at least in this part of the country, and not just cause we won -that was important of course- but moreso for the way we won. We won as a short handed underdog against a Goliath and we did it with style, grit, smarts, and alot of heart and toughness. After this game, it will be alot less “socially acceptable” to put the “soft label” on this team anymore. After this performance today, Texas and Mack may have finally put to rest the soft labels for his teams and his players. You won’t be hearing the BSPN pundits mouthing that off again, at least not for a while.
While there were many unfathomable aspects to this game, the thing that was most difficult for me to get over was the blantant holding the OU lineman were getting away with all game long. Yes, it is true, the OU lines are still more physically dominanting than the UT lines, but, apparently from the game, they don’t come close to matching us skillwise and with regard to technique. Without the blantant holding, which was obvious as day, the Texas D would have just dismantled the OU offense and knocked Bradford around like silly little rag doll. Why the holding was allowed to go on for the entire game -and without a peep from Mack, which makes it altogether even stranger- is just beyond me.
October 11, 2008 at 9:41 pm
In one sense, it doesn’t matter - we play Mizzou next week and that will be a tough game. I was hoping they’d win so we could beat another #1, or at least an undefeated. And, of course, the only ranking that really matters is the one after the BCS title game.
But, damn it, I also want to be ranked #1. if Texas goes on to lose a game, or two, this year, the “We were #1 for a few weeks after beating OU” thing still will mean something.
And there’s no way an idle Bama gets the nod over a Texas team that beat top-ranked OU.
October 11, 2008 at 10:20 pm
Doubtful if Texas jumps Bama, unless Bama has a couple of weak showings in a roll, just way too much respect for the SEC and for the inertia of the polls for that to happen.
It’s a concern and cool and all, but who the hell really cares? We have bigger fish to fry than that. As long as this team goes undefeated (which it should), there is simply no way, any other team will leap frog us out of a MNC game. Texas has a great shot at another MNC in just three years. And especially if Bama falters in the always strong SEC and Penn State goes undefeated, Texas could just luck out and have a cake walk to another MNC. With this win, things have just played out perfectly. Sure, there could be an upset, but, to me, the B12 is way overrated, with all its shatty D’s and overinflated O’s, and Texas should run through the rest of its games, unless it just goes out an lays an egg. Personally, I just don’t buy the B12 hype and its rankings. It seems to me to be the same ‘ole crappy conference, full of the same ‘ole crappy teams, that it is has always been since its inception. I like our chances of getting to the MNC very, very, very much. And Mizzou? Please. Just watch next week, we will paste Mizzou and I doubt if it is even close. Mizzou is just a very average team masquerading as a legitimate contender. I think they showed and confirmed this tonight. And it was not just that they lost to OSU but how they lost to them. The loss was no flike. OSU was the better team. The B12 North is so weak that its best is no better than a fourth place B12 South team. What a joke of a division.
October 11, 2008 at 10:20 pm
I’m really getting sick of all the inconsistencies among officials. I don’t know if it’s just plain fucking stupidity, or if these refs actually put a few bucks on the game. At one point, I actually thought the crew rode down with Bob Stoops…until I saw a couple of the calls Texas got. And then I concluded it was to make up for all of those no calls they made (Jesus that OU line can hold like no one’s business) and the bad calls they did make (OU punter anyone?)
As far as I’m concerned, a game this poorly officiated should be enough to encourage the conference to assist these “officials” in finding a new line of work. It was just flat out embarrassing.
October 11, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Alabama? Hey, great in in Athens, but otherwise … uh, no. The Tide beat Kentucky by three - at home - in their last game.
And while I hope Texas does “run through the rest of its games,” they’ve got Mizzou, Okie State and @ Tech for their next three games. And @ Kansas after that. That’s no cakewalk. It’s a rough haul. Lubbock is going to be a shpincter-puckering experience. Saying Texas is going to run through the rest of its games is sheer madness. Madness, I tell you. Madness!
But in the meantime, right now: We are the best team in the nation. We are #1.
October 11, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Steven,
I guarantee you that if you put these Big XII QB’s with these spread offenses in the SEC, those defenses would be running up and down the field just like it was a fucking track meet. There’s no way no other conference in the country compares with the quality QB’s (or offenses) that are in the Big XII. That league has one great QB and a bunch of average ones, therefore offense in the SEC suffers and their defenses look that much better.
Furthermore, DC’s are still playing catch up for the most part when it comes to defending these spread schemes. There’s just so many freakin ways to get your skill players in space with these schemes where they can create plays.
October 12, 2008 at 2:00 am
Ok write-up but let us stick to football.
October 12, 2008 at 3:11 am
Very classy writeup (very literary).
I agree with pretty much everything you said and would like to add a few extra points.
At the end of the 1st half, Colt begain to unravel a bit from the OU blitzing and started reverting to Colt v.2007. He got a bit sloppy holding onto the ball while running and fumbled. He also threw a really ill advised pass that was intercepted (though it was not called an interception by the incompetent refs).
I thought the changes that GD made in the second half (i.e. strongly emphasizing the short passing game, using Shipley as his tight end, and attacking OU’s replacement MLB) really helped colt settle back in and were key to winning.
These halftime adjustments in offensive strategy reduced the pressure on Colt and the OL and they were able to settle down and get back into their rhythm again.
What these changes in strategy indicate is that GD modified his offense by taking into account the actual capabilities/weaknesses of the horns’ O and sooners’ D. This is a huge step forward from years past where he had his strategy and just stuck to it no matter what. He would ask his players to do things that were beyond their ability (eg: pass block protect against sooner blitzes long enough to run slow developing intermediate pass patterns).
Today’s halftime adjustments were not brilliant but they were exactly appropriate for this particular game. If GD can continue this practical approach to offensive strategy, it bodes well for the horns.
Here’s something that GD will have to deal with: what changes do you make when the opposition D finally starts press D on Quan and Shipley so that they have a hard time getting off the LOS? This is going to disrupt the timing of pass plays and make it slower and more difficult to complete the called pass play.
What do you do? Assume that the D is shading safeties toward Quan and Ship just in case they just break by the pressing defender. Presumably all other receivers are given a buffer by their defenders (since safety support is dubious).
The obvious solution is to throw to a 3rd receiver who should not be too tightly covered (rather than try to force it into the tightly covered receivers).
Other points:
Brandon Collins is a very slim fellow who cannot block anybody. I realize that Malcolm Williams may be a bit disappointing as the field stretching WR that we hoped would replace Sweed but how about letting him catch some short passes?
That way Shipley could play WR and Malcolm could play TE (as Shipley did today in the gang busters second half) or H back. Malcolm is a big strong guy (at least 225+) who is an excellent blocker and runs well. Do we really want Shipley playing a whole lot of TE (i.e. is it good for his health?)? Malcolm’s pass catching would improve a bunch if he was catching 5 and 10 yard passes rather than long passes.
Cody would also be an awesome H back who can knock people on their butts with his blocking and will be dangerous dump pass target.
Mack probably needs to change his recruiting policy a bit. Now that players are more likely to leave early for the NFL, Mack needs to have a little more flexibility in his recruiting (i.e. save 1 or 2 or 3 scholarships to be used closer to signing day) so that he can recruit for actual need in the program.
Personnel requirements can change rapidly (early entry to NFL, injuries, players transferring, players getting kicked off the team, etc.) so it is imperative to be able to respond (in the current recruiting class) to these changing needs rather to have to wait until the next year’s recruiting class to staff these personnel needs.
October 12, 2008 at 4:04 am
I think we have played a regular season game ranked as number 1 after 1984. I think it was 2005, right after USC had a tough win, and we plastered TX Tech (then ranked 10). We were number 1 for a week but had another OKie Lite 1st half scare, and USC destroyed whoever they played so they moved us back to 2. I think…I may be wrong.
October 12, 2008 at 4:27 am
“Rod Muckelroy – but for the blown coverage on the long TD pass to Jermain Gresham (Muck had the coverage initially but came off it on the run fake on the play),”
No. Earl Thomas was at fault there.
“Chris Ogbannaya – it occurred to me watching him today that he runs a lot like Emmitt Smith used to.”
Dude.
“Quan had a typically workman-like 9 grabs for 122 yards. Nice work. ”
There was nothing workman-like about Quan yesterday.
“hat way Shipley could play WR and Malcolm could play TE (as Shipley did today in the gang busters second half) or H back. Malcolm is a big strong guy (at least 225+) who is an excellent blocker and runs well.”
But in order to do that you have to have an excellent sense of space, timing, and discipline. Williams is a freshman that can’t stay on the field despite his massive talent. Asking him to do something even more difficult is not wise.
He’s still potential right now.
October 12, 2008 at 4:35 am
kriess -
We were #1 in the BCS rankings for a week. True to their normal reactive idiocy, enough pollsters moved us down the next week that we were #2.
The only AP or Coaches’ poll we’ve been #1 in since 1984 was the 2005 postseason.
October 12, 2008 at 4:37 am
kriess, in the game notes located here: on page 31 they list all the AP and USA today rankings. In 2005 we were #2 from preseason until we moved to #1 on 1/5 in both polls.
October 12, 2008 at 4:59 am
Great write up. I’m so proud of this team.
Also, that huge pile of horseshit Grant Teaff memorial give-away was in Austin.
October 12, 2008 at 5:08 am
lowery: No, it was in Waco. You can check the schedule at texassports.com.
October 12, 2008 at 5:14 am
He also threw a really ill advised pass that was intercepted (though it was not called an interception by the incompetent refs)
————————————————-
WRONG.
A receiver must maintain possession/control of the ball through contact with the turf. The Sooner did not, therefore it was the proper call. Just like Drew Kelson getting both hands on the ball and 1 foot down against USC, this was NOT AN INT.
October 12, 2008 at 5:14 am
Good, good read. I would like more football and less tomfoolery though. Cut out the first 5 paragraphs and this is a winner.
October 12, 2008 at 5:20 am
Chris Applewhite, any relation to the Major? By the way, your points are dead on. Well said.
October 12, 2008 at 5:20 am
Thanks Huck! Yeah I thought it was BCS…my mistake. Did anyone hear what Holtz was apologizing about last night on Sportscenter? I heard it had something to do with Tebow vs Colt for the Heisman. And Im sure it was in one of his half drunk voices…cracks me up every time.
October 12, 2008 at 5:21 am
Tim: I’m really big on tomfoolery. Love it. So you’ll just have to bear with me here.
October 12, 2008 at 5:34 am
Steven,
I guarantee you that if you put these Big XII QB’s with these spread offenses in the SEC, those defenses would be running up and down the field just like it was a fucking track meet. There’s no way no other conference in the country compares with the quality QB’s (or offenses) that are in the Big XII. That league has one great QB and a bunch of average ones, therefore offense in the SEC suffers and their defenses look that much better.
Sorry but I beg to differ. I just ain’t buying into the BSPN hype machine. The B12 Qb’s have more experience and play like it, but, on the other hand, I am pretty sure that more of the QB’s in the SEC, even at the present time, will be going pro than from the B12. The QB’s in the SEC have way more raw talent, they just need a bit more experience under their belt, and let us also not forget that they play in a league that actually plays some defense.
Gotta believe alot of the numbers the B12 puts up is just due to lousy defenses, not all of it but much of the numbers probably flow from this. Just look at what a semi-athletic team in OSU did to the “best O and the best QB in the nation” Mizzou. They shut’em down at home and the average defense in the SEC is way more talented and athletic than OSU’s.
Now I am not saying the B12 QB’s aren’t good. No, I believe they are good and some of the best in the nation, but let’s not go overboard here and just indiscriminately eat up on the BSPN hype. I mean, if a flea of a QB like Chase Daniel (and by the way, he actually does look like a little flea playing QB out there) can look all world in our league, then how much can that really mean, how much can all the numbers and highlights really mean? In my book, not too much. Guarantee you, a flea of a QB like him, would not get too far in the SEC. Hell, he probably would have trouble even getting off the bench and I am not joking about this. So far from what I have seen of Chase, he really isn’t all that impressive and he may just be the most overhyped QB since Gino Torretta. And coincidentally, if you haven’t noticed, Chase looks alot like Gino (which ain’t saying much), ‘cept he looks like a minature, midget version of him with better mobility.
October 12, 2008 at 5:56 am
Eyes, are you posting on Texags too? I noticed a similar post for aggy.
October 12, 2008 at 6:05 am
Sam Bradford’s composure in the pocket is amazing. Colt’s presence and precision passing are comparable to the greats in football. Josh Freeman is a physical specimen at 6′6″ and 240 with a GUN and he can run. I’ll give you the fact that Daniel and Reesing is small and wont play QB in the NFL, but name me a QB other than maybe Stafford who has any qualities the NFL looks for. The SEC defenses are great because the offenses are awful…the same theory turned against you.
October 12, 2008 at 6:16 am
#20 Auburn got beat by an Arkansas team that is absolute shit.
Matt Stafford had the first 300yd game of his career yesterday.
The SEC has a couple of really good teams just like the Big 12 does. The difference is that for some reason the shitty and mediocre teams in the SEC all get overrated. Arkansas, are you serious?
October 12, 2008 at 6:26 am
Tim: SHHHHH! Really, you do not have to read it.
Eyes: Great write-up! Always enjoy it.
Love this TEAM. It can beat anyone right now. Still, next three games will not be cakewalks and they need to be careful about reading the papers this week. We have a chance to do somthing special.
October 12, 2008 at 6:44 am
Okie State may just have an average defense but its offense would be well above average in the SEC. The unstoppable LSU defense meets a decent QB, the only one who would start in this leagues to offenses and the get 51 hung on them?
The Tigers were not the better team Saturday, but had the ball driving to win the game against a team that was coached and played very well. A dumb mistake by a guy that doesn’t make them ended that hope.
Texas is and has been the better team than MU all year. That said, MU is close enough to get a win if they play really well and Texas plays average. I don’t think that happens, but its better than knowing we will get pummeled regardless of how Texas plays like it has been in the past (save for that game where Ricky Williams ran through and over us for like 300 yards and somehow we won the game - thanks to the refs).
October 12, 2008 at 8:08 am
I’m glad we can agree that the refs sucked unholy ass yesterday.
October 12, 2008 at 8:20 am
Steven……..
If you look at the SEC a little closer you see some glaring truths. Look at the Arkansas example for a minute. 3 SEC teams, and Texas all played Arkansas. The Hawgs had 416 yards on Aub, 361 yards on Fla, 309 yards on Bama, and only 191 yards on Texas.
The league MAY have more NFL sized QBs than ours does, but the offenses are unimaginative and basic(outside of Fla). When everyone lines up with two receivers and a tight end almost every single play, it makes it easy on defenses. There is only 1 really good spread team in the conference, and one could argue that they are very one-dimensional considering they can’t run the ball. Missou played two SEC teams last year, and hung 38 on both of them.
I firmly believe that the SEC, though loaded on defense, is behind the times on offense. There is only so much you can do to stop an effective spread. All one has to do is go back and look at how well the have done against the WVUs of the world.
October 12, 2008 at 8:29 am
OU’s Ryan Reynolds is gone for the year with a torn ACL. I think that’s the 3rd season ending knee injury for him.
October 12, 2008 at 8:31 am
Reynolds’ knees are so bad that Jason White looked at them and said “man, those are some fucked up knees.”
October 12, 2008 at 8:48 am
The Hawgs had 416 yards on Aub, 361 yards on Fla, 309 yards on Bama, and only 191 yards on Texas.
That’s interesting, man. That’s fucking interesting.
October 12, 2008 at 8:57 am
My mistake. I’ve actually made this mistake before.
October 12, 2008 at 9:03 am
Chris:
“But in order to do that you have to have an excellent sense of space, timing, and discipline. Williams is a freshman that can’t stay on the field despite his massive talent. Asking him to do something even more difficult is not wise.”
You may be right, maybe asking Malcolm to learn a new position such as H back is a bridge too far.
But I’ve not heard one word that Malcolm has any problems with discipline, sense of space, or timing. What I have heard is he just isn’t catching the long ball up to GD’s standards. If that is the only thing keeping Malcolm off the field, that may be a solveable problem.
It is much, much easier to catch a short ball than a long ball. If Malcolm is mostly blocking (which coaches say he already does well) and is catching short passes, he may be fine.
Long term, it is not wise to have Shipley playing much tight end, that is like making a race horse pull a plow.
The horns’ 4th receiver (the split out TE)needs to be somebody who is strong, can block, is a receiving threat and is more expendable than Shipley.
Malcolm playing the same position (WR but split out just a few yards from the OT) is not that ambitious a goal if he is thrown passes that he can catch.
What I saw is that Collins avoids blocking. I don’t blame him because his body does not look ready for Big 12 football. Everybody on the O except for the QB needs to be a good blocker.
Do you think we just need to trust Greg Davis’ judgement on this issue because he is a veteran coach who is a good judge of talent?
I like GD but in the past he has wanted his players to fit into his system like cogs in a wheel. Sometimes a coach has to modify the system slightly to match the abilities/mask the disabilities of the players available.
October 12, 2008 at 9:41 am
Nate:
“He also threw a really ill advised pass that was intercepted (though it was not called an interception by the incompetent refs)
————————————————-
WRONG.
A receiver must maintain possession/control of the ball through contact with the turf. The Sooner did not, therefore it was the proper call…this was NOT AN INT.”
——-
I don’t know if you realize this but putting words in all upper case is considered shouting.
Could you specify the rule that backs up your shout? Not contradicting your shout but I would like to the actual rule.
If it exists, it probably states that there is no completion until the body comes in contact with the ground. For example, if a receiver catches a ball but is carried out of bounds by the defender before the receiver can contact the ground, the pass is not complete.
But if this is the argument, then would not the pass be complete the instant the ball touches the ground if the receiver securely controlled the ball up to that instant?
The ball is still securely in the hands of the receiver and will not come out of his hands for at least several milliseconds after that initial contact that completes the pass.
Do you have to hold the ball for some time after you establish contact with the ground or is it sufficient to hold the ball securely just at the instant of contact between the body (here the ball can be considered an extension of the body) and the ground?
If you do have to hold the ball securely for some time interval after the body comes in contact with the ground, what is that time interval and where is it defined?
We know that if somebody is running and hits the ground ball first and the ball comes out, the runner is considered down by contact and there is no fumble.
BTW, would you agree that the pass was ill advised and that the refs were, in general, incompetent?
October 12, 2008 at 10:18 am
Kriess, I don’t really care about this, but as far as raw talent is concerned, I do believe that the SEC has the upperhand on the B12 or, at least, its fairly even. Now I am not trying to take anything away from B12 QB’s, and they just maybe the best overall in the nation, but the margin is probably not that large as it seems from the play on field.
As far as pro potential is concerned, I believe that Colt leads the pack. He is going to be a Texas legend before he puts up his cleats at UT and will probably end up being a first day pick. Then I would put Freeman, Griffin, and Harrell in that group as well. Bradford? I’m not completely sold on him still. Granted, his arm strength has improved quite a bit, but he still has all day to throw, tends to throw pitch and catch to wide open receivers, and is allowed to follow through on most of this throws. Rarely if ever is he asked to make any really difficult throws in that offense of his, so it is a bit difficult to tell with him, despite his spectacular stats. Chase is way overrated and a no go, and Reesing? I would take him over Chase. He is a gamer and may just have shot despite his size. Without him that Kansas team would just be no where. He carries that otherwise sorry butt team.
The SEC is just pack full of QB’s that have better NFL measurables. Stafford most definitely is going to be a top 3 pick, if not the top pick. Now I can’t really say why this advantage does not seem to translate on the field in the SEC, but still it has to count for something. It may just be true that the B12 is ahead of the rest of nation in the offensive scheme category to a degree and it could also be that Texas QBs in general are better coached and prepared for Div I football than their counterparts. But then, on the other hand, don’t forget that even a QB like Ganz can put up some unholy numbers in our league, so you do have take some of the numbers in our league with a grain salt. I mean, if even Ganz can light it up in our conference with all those white boy receivers of his, then what does that really say about the quality of opposition he is going against? Let’s just say that he would not look nearly as good facing SEC type D’s week in and week out. It’s doubtful he would even see the field, frankly.
October 12, 2008 at 10:45 am
Oh, and I forgot about Johnson at A&M. I haven’t seen enough of him to know, but if he polishes out his game, I think he also has a shot in the league. I’ve been impressed with what I have seen from him so far and he is load better than McGee for what the Ags are running right now. He is about the only bright spot on that Aggie team.
October 12, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Oh, and please don’t ask me again about how Texas D held Arky to over 100 fewer yards than they’re averaging against SEC Ds OR about how Missou hung big 12-like scores on two SEC teams last year.
These facts really don’t support my SEC defensive superiority argument, so I’d prefer to ignore them and continue repeating my baseless argument.
kthx.
October 12, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Steven, arguing the superiority of the SEC this year is idiotic. The SEC defines mediocre this season. Yeah they may have QBs with better NFL measurables, but the only thing that determines victory is the final score.
Name one defense in the SEC that would likely keep Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, or Missouri from scoring at least 35 points on them. Then name me one offense that would likely score at least 35 points on any of those teams.
You win football games by scoring points and preventing your opponent from scoring. You don’t win by having a taller QB, or faster receivers.
October 12, 2008 at 12:56 pm
I want to add to the Ugly:
Fuck you if you sold your UT side tix to sooners! I understand times are tough, but that’s some bullshit. I saw more crimson mixed with the Burnt Orange yestarday than any amount of money can justify. Of course, watching them hang their heads at the end was nice, but beside the point.
Now that my rant is over, great post agian, and WOW! Alot of UT fans had a special feeling going into this game. About mid-way through the 1st quarter that feeling turned to dread. At half, we we’re thinking “if we get some lucky breaks…” By the the end we were thinking “With decent officials we would have won by 3 touchdowns!”.
As a GD hater, I too will give him his props for this game.
Muschamp, I’ll pay for your children to go to private school and college if you stay another year or two.
There is indeed a long road ahead, but if this team does not get complacent, we play for MNC!
October 12, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Lowery, if that game had been in Austin, Teaff and the refs would not have made it out of town alive.
I jumped to a dumb conclusion yesterday about Davis and his game plan. It was pretty damn good. Colt ran the offense to perfection and Greg kept calling plays for him that worked.
Amazing win. Now let’s go kick the shit out of Missouri.
October 12, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Steven, arguing the superiority of the SEC this year is idiotic.
Well I wasn’t really arguing this, but I guess that was what I was implying and I do believe it, so let me just put it this way. Just watch how Texas dismantles and dominates the upcoming B12 teams in the next few weeks and then just stop and reconsider the issue. Texas probably would not be able to do that in the SEC. Teams there are just too physical, week in and week out. In the B12, there is Texas and OU and then there is everyone else and no one else is even in the neighborhood. And while it may appear that the league has become better balanced with more parity, from what I can see, none of this seems to apply to UT and OU. If anything, they’ve managed to increased the separation between themselves and the rest of the league, as opposed to the gap become smaller. Now I could be wrong on this, but I see both Texas and OU running roughshod over the whole league and basically blowing the doors off just about every team they face. Just from a physical standpoint, none of the other teams seem as if they could keep up. And if Texas can do this, then that may just tell you how strong the B12 really is. My guess is that it is better than usual, but not too much better.
With the D that Texas has right now, we are going to just butt stomp every B12 team we run into all the way to the MNC. This is the first Mack Brown D with an actual bonafide pass rush, and, as such, it will just hammer the finesse O’s in this conference. Like a bug hitting a windshield, we are going to splatter the other teams who are unfortunate enough to run into us. By the end of the season, this D may just wind up being the best Mack has ever fielded at UT and especially when concerning these nutty ass spread O’s that are all over the place in the B12. Mack, with this D, may have finally caught up to the spread. I happen to be a big believer.
October 12, 2008 at 4:28 pm
sez steven: “Now I am not trying to take anything away from B12 QB’s, and they just maybe the best overall in the nation, but the margin is probably not that large as it seems from the play on field.”
I will readily admit that if you just ignore the “play on the field”, it becomes much easier to defend the supremacy of the SEC. In point of fact, that argument is actually quite difficult to make this year if you do NOT ignore the actual “play on the field”.
At the end of the day, if you want to say the SEC remains superior based on “NFL measurables”, you’re welcome to it, but please don’t expect anyone who’s actually been paying attention to such mundane details as the “play on the field” to take you at all seriously. Maybe you are a huge fan of the NFL combine, and that’s what you’re referring to, but I actually prefer college football to the combine, and in college football, the Big 12 quarterbacks, as well as the offenses, are vastly superior to the SEC. I’ve seen no evidence, and you’ve certainly provided none, that it’s because SEC defenses are just so much better at stopping those offenses. Merely stating that opinion as fact does not, alas for you, make it a fact. The evidence at hand (for an example, check out the interesting factoid regarding Arkansas’ offense vs SEC teams and Texas, since you seem to have misplaced that…) seems to suggest that the Big 12 offenses put up better stats because they play better offense, you know - “on the field”.
October 12, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Just wanted to say i really liked your post game write up. The Bob Stoops, first person angle was fresh.
October 12, 2008 at 7:09 pm
You nailed it re:OU holding. At the game I was livid. Then seeing the DVR, the obvious jersey/face grabbing, blatant takedowns on some of OU’s key gains… I have no words after seeing it in slow motion, often multiple holds per play. Our line play was sick, and our stamina was amazing. OU’s guys could not have played another minute. We were just blasting them on both sides of the ball in the 4th quarter. Best RRS I’ve ever attended out of 18. Biggest win vs. OU since ‘77 and maybe bigger. I’m in awe of Colt. Shipley’s return… the stuff of legends. I can’t say enough good things about this team and how enjoyable they are to watch. Thanks for the writeup.
October 12, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Look bad bob, I’m not trying to stir things up here or get into an argument. What you say could be the case. Far be it for me to know or have the evidence to really weigh in one way or the other.
But I will just say this. I think a strong indicator of the true strength of the B12 will come next week. OU plays KU and UT plays MU. If both those games goes as I think they will and they both end up as cakewalks for both UT and OU, then you sort of have a pretty good indicator of the true strength of the B12. If UT and OU both blow out MU and KU, then it would suggests that all those “play on the field” numbers were pretty much offensive stats overinflated due to playing crappy competition. Don’t know about all this evidence stuff, just know that when you look on the field, the B12 just has a sparse level of athleticism across the board on the defensive side of the ball. And I think anyone with a set of eyes can see that. Don’t need much evidence for that. Anyway, let’s wait to till the outcome of next week’s games and we will sort of get an indicator then.
October 12, 2008 at 7:56 pm
“Just watch how Texas dismantles and dominates the upcoming B12 teams in the next few weeks and then just stop and reconsider the issue. Texas probably would not be able to do that in the SEC. Teams there are just too physical, week in and week out.”
Texas hammered Arkansas, scoring 50 points with ease. We could have scored 60!! Now take a look at the SEC teams they played, and get back to us.
Okie State played Bama in a bowl game a couple years ago. They scored 31 points and 419 yards. Missou played Ark last year in a bowl game with McFadden and crew…. They scored 39, and laid down 459 yards. Kansas scored 24 points, and 344 yards on V-tech. I know they aren’t an SEC team per se, but they have defensive speed like one!
The point is the SEC is the “old school” conference. Their coaches are so afraid of spread offenses, that they fire their offensive coordinator after 5 lousy games, because they don’t believe they can win with one. Yet the only team that plays with a spread offense, just happens to be the best offense in the conference…….coincidence??….. and they aren’t even good at it, although they have good players! Tebow is a mediocre passer thus far in his career. I would be interested to see what Colt could do in that system.
.
October 12, 2008 at 8:06 pm
“Don’t know about all this evidence stuff, just know that when you look on the field, the B12 just has a sparse level of athleticism across the board on the defensive side of the ball. And I think anyone with a set of eyes can see that. Don’t need much evidence for that. Anyway, let’s wait to till the outcome of next week’s games and we will sort of get an indicator then.”
Yet all the so called “also-rans” are the ones that won their bowl games last year. Even the guys who lost put up a fight. CU lost to Bama 24-30. A&M lost to Penn State 24-17. KU, Missou, T-Tech, and OSU all won. Oklahoma was the only one who got it handed to them…..imagine that!! Had OU one their bowl game we would have had the same record as the SEC in bowl games.
October 13, 2008 at 5:33 am
Stop the ranting between the Big 12 and SEC. Do that somewhere else. I want to talk about the Texas-OU game and our upcoming games.